Trial by Fae (Dragon's Gift The Dark Fae #1) - Linsey Hall Page 0,15

inside the castle walls, their branches weaving through the stone. It should be impossible, but not here.

“You’re not in Kansas anymore,” I muttered as I approached the two guards who stood on either side of the archway.

They were dressed in gray-blue tunics and trousers, the fabric woven with threads of silver. Their hair was drawn back to show off their pointed ears, and they carried tall wooden pikes tipped with silver.

The guards’ eyes flicked to the carriage, then they nodded. The one on the left spoke in a gravelly voice. “Come with me. You will join the other competitors.”

He led me into the depths of the castle. It should’ve been dark and dank and gross down here, like in most castles.

But not in a Fae castle. The passageway was wide, with a high arched ceiling and smooth stone floor. Torches dotted the walls every ten feet, each filled with sparkling fairy lights.

The Fae might not have the same kind of technology we had on earth, but they certainly weren’t living in the Dark Ages.

Finally, we reached a massive domed room. Benches ringed the sides, and weapons hung high on the walls. The space was crowded with different species. At a glance, I saw witches, vampires, shifters, and mages. Not to mention quite a few Fae. The magical signatures in the room nearly bowled me over.

They were all trying to impress each other with how strong they were.

It kind of worked.

There was some serious competition in here.

I was good in a fight—really good—and I had a few magical skills I could call on. Transportation, amplification, seeker, the ability to send messages to someone’s mind, as well as speed and strength. But the big guns—my Dragon Blood magic—couldn't be used in front of other people. I didn’t need them figuring out what I was. Even using it just a little bit was a risk.

Even now, I could feel that I couldn’t transport directly out of this realm. It was blocked. If I were caught spying on the king, it’d be nearly impossible to escape.

Nerves shivered along my skin, and I suppressed them. It wouldn’t do to show weakness.

“Stay here,” the guard growled. “They’ll call for you soon enough.”

“The games will begin soon, then?”

He nodded sharply, then turned and left.

I made a circle around the room, checking out my competition. On the far side, away from where I’d entered, there were arched cutouts in the wall. They revealed the hallway beyond, and a dozen competitors were crowded around, looking out.

I strolled over, catching their whispers.

“He’s here!”

“That’s him.’

“King Tarron.”

Ooh, the king? Perfect.

I hurried forward, squeezing in between a guy who definitely smelled like a shifter and a woman who was likely a witch.

A group of Fae were walking down the hall toward us. The ones in the back were dressed in their finery, all gazing obsequiously at the figure in the front.

He strode along in a deep green suit—modern and from the human realm—his dark hair glinting in the fairy light.

I gasped and stumbled back.

Holy fates.

Holy fates.

The king was the same man who’d visited my shop.

The same one who knew I was a Dragon Blood.

The same one who thought I was his fated mate. And didn’t like it.

5

My heart thundered so loud that it nearly deafened me. I spun away from the archways that led to the hallway and hurried in the opposite direction.

Oh, this was bad. So, so bad.

I bumped into a woman, who grunted and turned. “What’s your problem?”

“Sorry. Bathroom. Where’s the bathroom?”

“Nervous?” She raised a blue eyebrow, and her pink eyes softened. Her white wings glittered under the light.

“Uh, yeah. Where is it?’

She hiked a thumb toward some doors near the entrance. I hurried toward them, too distracted to even thank her. By the time I entered the bathroom, I was nearly panting.

Thank fates he hadn’t seen me.

And thank fates the bathroom was empty. I didn’t need a witness to my semi freak-out.

I stalked toward the sink basin. Public bathrooms in the Fae realm weren’t dissimilar from ones in the human world, except for the fact that they were a hell of a lot nicer. Water poured continuously into blue crystal bowls. No water shortage here, apparently. The mirrors gleamed inside pale wooden frames made of beautifully twisted tree limbs.

I leaned over the basin of water, staring into the mirror and trying to get it together. Fates, I needed a cigarette. But that wasn’t going to happen, so I shoved one of my old-lady candies into my mouth and sucked hard.

“This